Council for Education in World Citizenship-Cymru/Cyngor Addysg mewn Dinasyddiaeth Byd-Cymru
Temple of Peace/Y Deml Heddwch • Cathays Park/Parc Cathays • Cardiff/Caerdydd CF10 3AP
www.cewc-cymru.org.uk • Tel/Ffôn 029 2022 8549 • Fax/Ffacs 029 2064 0333 • E-mail/E-bost [email protected]
Skills for Democracy – Lesson plan 3
Non-Formal Democracy
Objectives (taken from the PSE Framework for Wales)
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Pupils will “listen attentively in different situations and respond appropriately”;
“use a range of techniques for personal reflection”; “communicate confidently
[their] feelings and views and maintain with conviction a personal standpoint”.
Pupils can also “understand the issues relating to democracy in Wales and
know the rights and responsibilities of a young citizen”.
Resources
• Scissors
• Large sheet of paper
• Writing paper and pens
• Blank banners
• T-shirt sheet (if designing tshirt)
• Strips of paper (if creating wrist
bands)
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Computer with internet connection
(useful but not essential)
Time
One hour
Room Layout
• Tables in groups, splitting class into
6
Introduction
Even if they are too young to vote, there are other ways for students to get involved
and to participate in democracy. They can gain an understanding of how to make
their voices heard through this role-play exercise.
Activity (50 minutes)
• Divide the class into 6 groups.
• Give pupils a few minutes to decide if there is something they would like to
change in school. (You may wish to give the groups a campaign topic but it is
more effective if they think of something themselves.)
• Each group should design a campaign including the first 3 of the following
tasks and then one of their choice from the remainder:
- designing a logo
- writing a letter
- doing a schedule of events for the campaign over a month
- making a banner
- designing a t-shirt
- making a wristband
• If you hope that the campaign will be used in “real life”, you might want to give
the students more than one lesson to complete the tasks.
• Each group should present their way of campaigning to the rest of the class.
• At the end of the session, pupils could choose the best campaign and explain
why.
Plenary – Assessment (10 minutes)
• Do they think their campaign could be used in “real life”?
• Who could carry it out?
• What was the most effective way to campaign, and why?
Council for Education in World Citizenship-Cymru/Cyngor Addysg mewn Dinasyddiaeth Byd-Cymru
Temple of Peace/Y Deml Heddwch • Cathays Park/Parc Cathays • Cardiff/Caerdydd CF10 3AP
www.cewc-cymru.org.uk • Tel/Ffôn 029 2022 8549 • Fax/Ffacs 029 2064 0333 • E-mail/E-bost [email protected]
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Do they think it could work?
Do they feel more confident about campaigning?
Why is it important to have a range of things going on in a campaign?
Complete self-assessement using the “Parthenon paper”.
Where Next?
Try taking part in democracy in one of the following ways:
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Use one of your campaigns for real – ask your school council and friends to
help you.
Set up a school campaigning group – if there is an issue you feel passionate
about, try to change it!
Get involved with your school council. Since November 2006 your school has
been required to have a school council. These are great places to start a
campaign, and even if you aren’t a school councillor you should be able to
present your ideas to them.
Join in with and promote existing campaigns. Most big charities have a
campaigning element, and will have instructions about how to get involved on
their websites.
Organisations/websites with useful resources
• Feed Me Better (Jamie Oliver)
www.feedmebetter.co.uk
• Bog Standard (school toilets campaign)
www.bog-standard.org
• Cymdeithas yr Iaith (Welsh Language Society)
www.cymdeithas.org
• Amnesty International
www.amnesty.org.uk
• Oxfam
www.oxfam.org.uk
• Save the Children
www.savethechildren.org.uk
Council for Education in World Citizenship-Cymru/Cyngor Addysg mewn Dinasyddiaeth Byd-Cymru
Temple of Peace/Y Deml Heddwch • Cathays Park/Parc Cathays • Cardiff/Caerdydd CF10 3AP
www.cewc-cymru.org.uk • Tel/Ffôn 029 2022 8549 • Fax/Ffacs 029 2064 0333 • E-mail/E-bost [email protected]
Information Sheet: Non-Formal Democracy
Non-Formal Democracy is an important part of democracy. It represents the
possibilities you have to make yourself and your ideas heard.
What Is Non–Formal Democracy?
Non-Formal Democracy as a term covers all activities which influence governments
without voting or belonging to a political party. There are some big campaigns such
as MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY or anti-war marches – but you can also campaign for
changes in your school, your street or your community.
How to express it
Wear a wristband, a T-shirt or
badge supporting a cause
Write to your Member of Parliament (MP),
Member of the National Assembly for Wales (AM),
Member of the European Parliament (MEP) or
local councillor
Sign a petition
Take part in a public demonstration
Get involved with an
organisation which represents
your views, e.g. Oxfam or
Greenpeace
Campaign for change in your local community or across the world
What makes it work?
• Joining forces with people who share the same ideas as you
• Active involvement – doing things as well as talking about them
• Giving as much time as you can afford
• Numbers – the more people that are involved, the more your actions could
have a real impact
Who is involved?
People involved in Non-Formal Democracy are ordinary people who want to express
themselves peacefully. Non-Formal Democracy is not linked directly with political
parties or elections.
Council for Education in World Citizenship-Cymru/Cyngor Addysg mewn Dinasyddiaeth Byd-Cymru
Temple of Peace/Y Deml Heddwch • Cathays Park/Parc Cathays • Cardiff/Caerdydd CF10 3AP
www.cewc-cymru.org.uk • Tel/Ffôn 029 2022 8549 • Fax/Ffacs 029 2064 0333 • E-mail/E-bost [email protected]
Case study: Welsh people’s involvement in the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY
campaign
The MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaigners made a difference. Under their
pressure, leaders promised to change some policies.
During the year 2005, people of the world (including many Welsh people) were part
of the biggest ever anti-poverty movement. It was the first time that so many people
(including many young people) came together to participate in a worldwide campaign
to fight against poverty.
Whether they wore a white band, e-mailed their MP or took part in the big Edinburgh
rally or ‘white band days’, they made their voices heard and showed their willingness
to change things.
As a result, the UK government demonstrated leadership at the G8* summit in July
2005, and worked hard to deliver significant steps towards debt* cancellation and
more and better aid.
In terms of UK policy, a number of important new changes in approach were
established and campaigners are looking for evidence of them being turned into
practical action.
G8 Rally
Edinburgh, 2 July 2005
Atlantic College, 17 November 2005
Students from Atlantic College spell out
MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY with their bodies
Council for Education in World Citizenship-Cymru/Cyngor Addysg mewn Dinasyddiaeth Byd-Cymru
Temple of Peace/Y Deml Heddwch • Cathays Park/Parc Cathays • Cardiff/Caerdydd CF10 3AP
www.cewc-cymru.org.uk • Tel/Ffôn 029 2022 8549 • Fax/Ffacs 029 2064 0333 • E-mail/E-bost [email protected]
T-shirt sheet
Council for Education in World Citizenship-Cymru/Cyngor Addysg mewn Dinasyddiaeth Byd-Cymru
Temple of Peace/Y Deml Heddwch • Cathays Park/Parc Cathays • Cardiff/Caerdydd CF10 3AP
www.cewc-cymru.org.uk • Tel/Ffôn 029 2022 8549 • Fax/Ffacs 029 2064 0333 • E-mail/E-bost [email protected]
Non-Formal Democracy – Skills Sheet
1.
Discussing what a campaign is (whole class)
LISTENING
* You will listen to what other people have to say about campaigns.
2.
Preparing campaigns (in a group)
DECISION MAKING
* You will choose what you would like to campaign about.
* You will have to choose what elements of the campaign you will do.
* You will choose the best logo and slogan for your campaign.
LISTENING
* You will need to listen to other members of your team.
COMPROMISE
* You may need to change some of your own ideas to fit in with the rest of your
group.
3.
Comparing campaigns
DEBATING
* There might be some debate about each of the campaigns.
LISTENING
* You will have to listen to other people present their campaigns.
DECISION MAKING
* You will have to choose the best parts of each campaign.
Council for Education in World Citizenship-Cymru/Cyngor Addysg mewn Dinasyddiaeth Byd-Cymru
Temple of Peace/Y Deml Heddwch • Cathays Park/Parc Cathays • Cardiff/Caerdydd CF10 3AP
www.cewc-cymru.org.uk • Tel/Ffôn 029 2022 8549 • Fax/Ffacs 029 2064 0333 • E-mail/E-bost [email protected]